By Brian Thomas Reporting exclusively for SriLanka sports. Com Edited by Christopher Jordashe.
The Thomian power packed forwards played their hearts out as Isipathana looked out of sort against a far superior Thomian game plan because the home team used their forwards and back division to run hard at the green machine who missed vital awareness of the Thomians plan to sneak through the Green Machine defence using brutal power, whilst Isipathana struggled in Defence and attack with two of their capable players in their back line namely Madushan and Kodithuwaku started nursing niggles mid way of the first half.
Thomians with their heavy forwards, pounced on their opponents with excellent defence for most of the game,well executed pick and go moves, and used the vulnerability of Isipathana line defence, which was an absolute tactical ploy.The thomain physicality upfront virtually came as a surprise to Patana as they least expected to encounter such brutal force..
The game obviously had a Pendulum swing, which you can envision based on the quality of both teams.Patana had their moments when they ran their threes quarters and had some continuity in phases where they even counter attacked a few occasions off some deep kicks,which looked threatening, running from the centre to the touch lines.
Similar to Trinity, the brother school of St Thomas seems to have given it’s ardent supporters,fans,a glimpse of the mid-1980s team as the rugby dished out was thrilling to most spectators.
The Thomians played this game with immense agression ,intensity that could be compared to the golden era of Thomian rugby back in the 80 ‘s with late coach Quintin Israel at the helm.
This Thomian teams performance could be the best seen in the last decade because Isipathana, who always play their fast open brand of Rugby, were hunted down by a hungry set of Thomian forwards,ably supported by Bulathsinghala who has shown he is an impact player in the side.
Isipathana was stunned upfront when St Thomas’ used their three-quarter line to score their first try , Liyana Gunawardena, touching down for a converted try dashing through a slight opening .The Thomian well built hard runner caught Isipathana off guard and sliced through the gap to score.
Isipathana struck back after almost 2 minutes when playing Maker , Avishka Eran used his side step , cum show and go skills to beat the Thomians for an equaliser try scored on the far right.
STC 7 Isipathana 7.
We were in for a classic exhibition of open Rugby. For the Thomians, a run of play incident when play maker Bulathsinghala was yellow carded , whilst Isipathana stuck immediately once again through Avishka Eran and Isipathana took the lead by 14 points to 7.
In the 22nd minute, Thomians forced their way into the vulnerable green machine territory because Isipathana had a few issues protecting their white wash against an aggressive forwards charge.
The Thomians did just that as Aluwihare the lanky Thomian forward carrying 2 Isipathana defenders to touch down the second try which Mayanka Dias converted and the score was 14 points each.
With lemons round the corner, Isipathana counter attacked the Thomian territory, but the strong defence from the Thomian forwards and the support of the back division drove Isipathana back to their territory.
Aluwihare, the ball carrier broke loose, again but this time from the blind side off a 5 meter scrum touches down and the reliable, Mayanka Dias adds the much valued 2 points for STC. At lemons the score reading 21 points to 14 .
Soon after lemons, Isipathana made a hash of the restart kick and gave the rejuvenated Thomians an opportunity, as the referee called for a centre scrum.
Bulathsinghala showed his class yet again,he dummied and broke through an entire defence line and Liyana Gunawardena to put the finishing touches down for the fourth bonus try.It was beautifully converted by Mayanka Dias and the Thomians stamped their class with a 28 points 14 lead.
Isipathana made a few inroads to come back in playing flashy open rugby. The green machines scored another try during the run of play after a Thomian infringement, giving penalty after penalty at that stage, which Isipathana made use of and reduced the deficit to 21 points to 28 still in favour of the Thomians.
In the 53rd minute STC had their second yellow card as wanigasuriya brushed patana No 10 Avishka while he made a kick..
The school of thought went down the spine,as many feared whether the thomians panicked, because Isipathana reduced the margin by putting over a penalty on offer, and the pendulum swung 28 points to 24 still in favour of the home team.
Mickel Karunaratne, the burly number 8 of St Thomas’, just about 10 minutes on the clock, pulled a rabbit out of the hat as he barged through a hapless Isipatana defence line and St Thomas moved to 33 points to Isipathana’s score of 28.
St Thomas’ added the icing to the cake with a final penalty, struck right by Mayanka Dias, and the school by the sea recorded a historic 36 points to 24 win over Isipathana and the thomians took the inaugural Rizvy Zuhaib trophy and remain on top of their group..
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